Big Rocking Horse

The Big Rocking Horse is a tourist attraction located in the town of Gumeracha, South Australia. Designed by David McIntosh, the structure weighs 25 tonnes and stands at over 18 metres tall, and is one of a number of Big Things in Australia designed to attract the attention of passing motorists. It is part of a larger complex that includes a wooden toy factory, wildlife park and café. Owned by the Wilkinson family since the early 1970s, the complex was sold in 2004 and continues to operate today.

Big Rocking Horse
General information
LocationGumeracha, South Australia
Construction started1980 (1980)
Completed1981 (1981)
Opening1981 (1981)
CostA$$100,000
ClientWal Wilkinson
OwnerAnthony Miller
Height18.3 metres (60 ft)
Dimensions
Weight25 tonnes (25 long tons; 28 short tons)
Technical details
Structural systemSteel
Floor count3
Design and construction
ArchitectJohn Twopenny
Civil engineerHalwell Engineering

History

In 1973, after opening a wooden toy factory in Gumeracha, owner Wal Wilkinson chose to incorporate a large roadside attraction to the site in order to attract passing traffic.[1] The first of these was a large wooden giraffe which stood at approximately five metres in height. This was subsequently replaced by a series of rocking horses: a three-metre-tall (9.8 ft) horse giving way to a five-metre model, before the process culminated in the decision to build the Big Rocking Horse.[2] The resulting 18.3 metre tall structure was designed by David McIntosh and John Twopenny, and it was opened in 1981 after eight months of construction and an investment of $100,000.[1]

The Big Rocking Horse remained under Wilkinson family's ownership for just over 20 years, although problems arose late in this period with an increase in insurance premiums. Although it remained structurally sound, a fall in 1999 and the change in liability insurance premiums resulted in the closure of the site to the public in 2001.[3][4] Prior to this date visitors had been able to ascend to a lookout tower on the head of the structure.[4]

In September 2003, Graeme Wilkinson placed the Toy Factory—including the Big Rocking Horse—on the market, at an asking price of approximately $900,000.[5] It was sold in 2004 to Anthony Miller, who had emigrated from South Africa in 1999.[6] Under Miller the structure was restored and reopened to the public, with visitor access to the viewing platforms available from April, 2004.[7] Changes made by Miller, including the reopening of the Big Rocking Horse and the removal of entrance fees to the associated wildlife park, saw an overall increase in visitor numbers to the complex from 65,000 in 2003 to 200,000 in 2006.[8]

In June 2009 the Big Rocking Horse was purchased by Frans and Lyn Gous, another family of business migrants from South Africa, and remains open to the public.

Design and construction
Another view of the giant rocking horse outside the toy factory

The Big Rocking Horse is 18.3 metres in height and 17 metres in length.[9] Made of steel, the structure weighs 25 tonnes, and it is set in 80 tonnes of concrete to prevent rocking. The steel frame was fabricated by Halwell Engineering in Adelaide and transported by road to the site, after which the steel cladding was attached.[1] Stairs incorporated inside the rocking horse lead to three viewing platforms: one at the head, one on the saddle, and a third on the "rocker bows" near the base of the structure.[1][2]

The Big Rocking Horse is part of a larger complex incorporating the Toy Factory, a cafe and a wildlife park. The factory sells a large range of wooden toys and souvenirs, while the wildlife park (which covers approximately seven acres), features a number of native and introduced species, including emus and kangaroos.[10]

Footnotes
  1. Clark 2004, p. 191
  2. Morgan & 9 July 1999, p. 39
  3. Oakley & 29 December 1999, p. 9. The child fell from the platform on the top of the structure to the middle platform, but suffered only minor injuries.
  4. Stone & 30 January 2001, p. 6
  5. DiGirolamo & 8 October 2003, p. 4
  6. Henschke & 2 June 2006. Subsequent to buying the Big Rocking Horse, Miller went on to purchase the nearby Warrawong Sanctuary.
  7. Innes & 8 October 2004, p. 40
  8. Austin & 9 June 2007, p. 56
  9. Scutt 2009, p. 98
  10. Clark 2004, p. 192

References
  • Austin, Nigel (9 June 2007). "Free entry way to rebuild a failing business". The Advertiser. p. 56.
  • Clark, David (2004). Big Things: Australia's amazing roadside attractions. Penguin Books. pp. 190–192. ISBN 0-14-300200-7.
  • DiGirolamo, Rebecca (8 October 2003). "Toying with the idea of big bucks". The Australian. p. 4.
  • Henschke, Ian (2 June 2006). "Warrawong sold but conservation dream lives on". Stateline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  • Innes, Stuart (8 October 2004). "Rarest honour for rocking horse icon". The Advertiser. p. 40.
  • Morgan, Peter (9 July 1999). "Toy story". The Advertiser. p. 39.
  • Oakley, Vivienne (29 December 1999). "Boy's lucky escape in 7m fall". The Advertiser. p. 9.
  • Scutt, Craig (2009). The Little Book of Big Aussie Icons. Five Mile Press. pp. 98–99. ISBN 978-1-74178-600-2.
  • Stone, Kelly (30 January 2001). "Bills hobble big horse". The Advertiser. p. 6.

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